Breaking the Word

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Mk 2,5

Jesus has done a few miracles in chapter one of Mark's gospel.

They are all healing miracles and chasing out of the demons.

In this chapter (Chapter two) he does, yet, another healing miracle and 

for the first time the element of faith comes to play.

But interestingly it is not the faith of the one who is healed.

When Jesus saw the faith of the four who were carrying the sick

he heals the one who is carried.

Here again it is Jesus who sees the faith of the four.

They have not expressed in anyway except in carrying 

the sick with the intention of being healed.

They express this intention in a singular way 

by bringing the sick close to Jesus

even by removing the roof of the house.

Faith expressed in an extraordinary way works miracle.

Also the one who is to be healed has to be near Jesus

even though he does not seem to express his faith in anyway.

It is because he is sick, that he has not expressed his faith or 

he is not able to express it.

But he is brought close to Jesus.

That is why we ask others to pray for our intentions.

Prayers and faith of a third person can work wonders.

St. Augustine was converted on the prayer of his mother.

And there are many more examples.

Faith in GOD (here in Jesus) and closeness to Jesus

seem to be factors that work miracle.

show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;

 that will be proof for them." Mk 1,44

It is interesting that Jesus asked the man not to tell anyone

but asked him to offer sacrifices as a witness(=proof).

For whom is the witness?

Who are they?

The witness seems to be only for the priests.

Why so?

Is it because the priests are unbelieving?

Or do they need more convincing then others?

Only the unbelieving need witnesses and proofs.

For, Jesus asked the man not to speak openly to the people.

But we know that the witness is to say that he is clean and healthy.

The witness is more for his wholeness than a proof for someone.

He (the healed person) is called to be witness in a sense a disciple.

For a disciple is the who bears witness.

Bearing witness in its turn means to die for.

Die for Jesus.

Could we say that Jesus asked not to speak about him (Jesus)

but rather die for him.

Again it is interesting that Jesus healed him to die for him.

Not immediately (die) but living his life.

That is, his daily living should show that Jesus has 

healed him.

So the healed person is asked not to go about talking about it

rather he is asked to bear witness life long until his death.

He stands as a witness that God has worked in him